[4][5] During the 1965 Winter Meetings, he was one of three players along with Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun whose names were originally submitted by the Cincinnati Reds in discussions of any transaction which would have sent Frank Robinson to Baltimore, but the Orioles balked at trading Blefary.

[7] Nicknamed "Clank" by Frank Robinson because of his below-average fielding abilities, Blefary started his career in the outfield, tried at first base, then switched to catcher, in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup.

[9] Blaming his constant defensive shuffling for his offensive decline, Blefary was traded to Houston in 1969 in the deal that brought Mike Cuellar to the Orioles.

He had hip replacement surgery due to avascular necrosis in the mid-1990s and experienced a variety of health and financial problems, including alcoholism and depression.

[16][4] Blefary died at his home in Pompano Beach, Florida on January 28, 2001, at the age of 57 from chronic pancreatitis and other related ailments.

Although the park was nearly demolished when he died, his wife Lana was able to honor his request to scatter his ashes in Memorial Stadium.

The Babe Ruth Museum supplied the home plate used in the penultimate game at the stadium and located it in the precise spot where it had been used.